Silkie Info?

[FreeChicken!]

Hello!
A friend down the street is selling chicks that are nearly two months old and very cute. I'm probably going to get a few today, including a Silkie. I have never had a Silkie before, only RIRs, Rocks, Orpingtons, and Leghorns. I have been doing plenty of research on Silkies, and I was wondering if anyone here had some links to more info about Silkies.
Thanks!

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Check out http://www.americansilkiebantamclub.org/about.asp

 

[racuda]

Have you read this? https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/297632/silkie-thread

 

[FreeChicken!]

Thank you! I'll check those out!

I got my Silkie pullet. She's very cute, and likes to chase flies!

 

[FreeChicken!]

Oh! I have an important question. I need help making sure my Silkie is a pullet. Any help?

 

[fiveladybugs]

Oh! I have an important question. I need help making sure my Silkie is a pullet. Any help?

Silkies are very hard to sex until older, but there a few things you can look for (though this may not always work). A male Silkie will have larger and rounder wattles than a female, though this will be hard to tell if it is bearded. A male crest is often times swept back, whereas a female is usually more round & dare I say poofy.

I've never successfully sexed any Silkie chicks I've had, but I will say that they have been some of the friendliest chickens I've had!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

At two months, even with a hatchery quality bird it would be almost impossible to tell gender. I often do not know until the birds are much, much older than that--6-8 months. There are a few exceptions, but that is mostly knowng colour patterns and tiny details.

First indication of a male is usually streamers from the crest and hackles, of for a pullet, the lack of them. But two months is too young. No bearded bird should have much in the way of wattles, and if they do, it is no indicator of gender. Since the comb should not be red, that is no indicator, either. Size will tell, but not at two months.

 

[FreeChicken!]

Yikes. If only someone could make a breed of Silkie that was easier to sex!